Big-hearted Leighton Buzzard golfers have donated over £5,000 to a charity focused on proving support for children diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia.

Members of the Plum Duffs, a group organised by retired Leighton turf accountant Geoff Dimmock, raise money at weekly competitions at the Plantation Road club, and in the 19 years since it was formed,  has donated over £71,200 to 15 local and regional worthy causes.

Now after the latest charity day competition involving over 70 golfers, Geoff has handed over £5,380  to CLIC Sargent Young Lives vs Cancer to help the charity with its work supporting chlldren and their families coping with life threatening illnesses.

Explains Geoff: “Our annual charity day is well supported by Leighton members and local businesses, giving us the opportunity to help people less fortunate than ourselves.  We have supported CLIC Sargent in the past – we know from experience that they do a great job, much appreciated by families having to cope with the cost and stress of caring for their children as they undergo chemotherapy or surgery.”

Karen Olden, CLIC Sargents’ fundraising engagement manager for Bedfordshire, thanking Plum Duff golfers and guests for their donation, said: “Every day, around 12 children and young people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia, often being hospitalised long distances from where they live with parents facing additional travel and accommodation costs.  It’s support like this from communities which make a significant difference to the work our specialist team provides in a variety of ways, including financial and emotional support for children having to cope with cancer or leukaemia. “

On the course, the 18-hole golf competition was won by retired bank executive Martin Broadley with 41 points, pipping colleague colleague Tom Day on countback over the last nine holes. Tony Swain beat John Smith for third place on countback after both finished with 40 points, while other top finishers were Lee Scott, Ed Stephenson and Barry Wills with 39 points and Phil Coumbes, Lee Jones and Darran Valentine with 38 points

Judi Malpass won the ladies competition with 34 points, one clear of Barbara Rickard with Lesley Brazier third with 28 points.

 Longest drive prizes were won by Ed Stephenson and nearest-the-pin prizes were won by Steve Molyneaux, Ed Stephenson, Terry Wright, Lesley Brazier and Dave Evans, while Colin Jeffreys, the Plum Duffs aggregate champion for the year, carded the best t front nine score with 23 points, and Peter Raza received the prize for the best back nine total.